3.8.10 Pātālasuttaṃ1

 

Bhikkhus, when an uninstructed worldling makes the following statement, “This ocean is a bottomless abyss”, he is saying something that doesn't exist, that can't be found. The word 'bottomless abyss', Bhikkhus, is a designation for unpleasant bodily sensations.

 

When an uninstructed worldling, Bhikkhus, experiences unpleasant bodily sensations, he equally cries, grieves, laments, beats his breast, becomes bewildered. This is called, Bhikkhus, an uninstructed worldling who has not arisen from the bottomless abyss, who has not gained a foothold.

When a well-instructed noble disciple, Bhikkhus, experiences unpleasant bodily sensations, he does not cry, grieve, lament, beat his breast, nor does he become bewildered. This is called, Bhikkhus, a well instructed noble disciple, who thus emerges from the bottomless abyss, who has reached solid ground.

 

Whoever can not endure the arising of unpleasant bodily sensations,

That endanger his life, who trembles when touched by them,

Who cries and wails, feeble and void of strength,

He has not arisen from the bottomless abyss, has not gained a foothold.

 

But whoever can endure the arising of unpleasant bodily sensations,

That endanger his life, and does not tremble when touched by them,

Such a one emerges from the bottomless abyss, reaching solid ground.

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1. Pātālasuttaṃ: pātāla + sutta: abyss + sutta

Last modified: Monday, 17 January 2022, 4:54 PM